Gun dispenser



J. F. DENSON GUN DISPENSER Oct. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 INVENTOR fisa u F Davao/v.

ATTORNEY J. F. DENSON GUN DISPENSER Oct. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 v NVENTOR fpll D y50 United States Patent ce 2,s0s,425 GUN nrsPnNsE Joseph F. Denson, Durham, N.C. Application December 31, 1956, Serial No. 631,905

I 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-262 This invention relates to a portable apparatus for dispensing viscous and 'cementitious materials and relates more particularly to a motor-driven gun-type dispenser for discharging a concentrated stream of glutinous material from a hopper mounted to feed material to the dispenser.

Exterior building maintenance on masonry and brick buildings'is extremely costly due primarily to the manual labor required in removing spalled mortar joints and then pointing up these joints and reglets. Mending joints in roofs and flashingby sealing the openings with mastic asphalt by troweling the defective or open joints is also extremely time consuming and costly, the labor cost far exceeding the cost of materials. In addition, sealing joints with caulking'compound around easements, windows, skylights and other wall openings when performed by means of a conventional caulking gun dispenser and trowel is slow and tedious. Furthermore, in any of these refinishing operations, as well as in new constructions, the very nature of the job and the consistency of the materials employed is not of a nature to be spread by means of the conventional trowel and other tools without covering and invariably soiling or marring the surrounding areas-from the location of the material application. It will also be readily apparent that uniform material penetration and distribution is not readily obtainable by means of these, conventional tools unless the material is tamped into place. a.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable gun-type apparatus for discharging viscous cementitious materials in a concentrated stream for dispensing the materials for sealing joints and cracks under a substantially uniform discharge flow and pressure.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a dispensing gun for mortar or caulking compound or other glutinous materials with a hopper for feeding the materials into the dispensing gun.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a combination of a motor-driven gun-type dispenser having a material hopper from which a material may be fed continually into the gun for dispensing therefrom.

Still another object of the present invention is a guntype dispenser attachment for a conventional motor-driven drill chuck in which the gun dispenser is provided with a releasable hopper for feeding materials into the gundispenser and in which the dispenser components are readily disengaged for cleaning purposes. a

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a gun-type dispenser in which viscous materials may be fed continuously from a hopper mounted on the dispenser to a continuously rotating conveyor supported within a gun housing for advancing a viscous material to'a gun discharge opening.

, Another object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser for glutinous materials which. is capableof handling a replaceable cartridge containing the material 2,908,425 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 to be dispensed facilitating reloading of a material supply hopper.

Yet other objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide an inexpensive portable cement or caulking gun apparatus which may be readily disassembled for cleaning, one having a minimum number of operating parts which require maintenance, and one which may be thoroughly cleaned thus preventing clogging of the rotating elements due to coagulation of the glutinous materials. p

Generally, the present inventive concept contemplates a dispenser in which a cylindrical housing having a transverse material receiving opening therein is provided with a conveyor auger extending axially through the housing and mounted for rotation by means of a portable electrically-driven motor and on which housing a releasable hopper having means for advancing a viscous material through the hopper for feeding into the cylindrical housing opening for introduction to the conveyor auger which auger in turn will advance and discharge the material through a discharge nozzle at one end of the housing.

Other and further objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent as the invention becomes better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a gun dispenser of the present invention attached to a portable electric motor driving apparatus;

Fig. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a modified material hopper for substitution in place of the hopper depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, with portions of the hopper removed, of the dispenser gun per se;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the dispenser housing and conveyor components; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown generally in Fig. 1 an assembled apparatus for dispensing mortar, caulking compound, mastic roofing material and other glutinous materials which comprises a gun-type dispenser 10 to which is supported a material supply hopper 11 with means 12 within the hopper for urging materials contained therein into the gun housing wherein a helical screw conveyor will advance the material to the discharge nozzle end of the housing as the conveyor is rotated by 'means of a portable electric motor driven drill apparatus 13.

Hollow cylindrical housing 15 is provided with an entrance chute opening 16 having a rectangular opening 17 formed by the boundary wall which projects upwardly intermediate the length of the housing for receiving and admitting materials into the housing from a suitable hopper. At the discharge end 18 of the housing a quick disconnect fastening means may be provided such as a bayonet type connection having studs 19 secured to the housing for receiving the end discharge cap 20 thereon. End cap 20 is provided with stud cooperating openings 21 for the releasable locking reception of the studs 19 therein to retain the end cap 20 on the housing. The converging nozzle on the end cap terminates in a short nipple discharge orifice 23 to which a detachable nozzle 24 may be threadably or frictionally fastened. The size of the discharge opening 25 in the nozzle 24 may vary depending upon the specific application to which the dispenser will be utilized and the material to be dispensed. Ithas been determined that nozzles made of a plastic material such as polyethylene are satisfactory since they are readily cleaned, sufliciently sturdy and chemically inert to the materials generally employed.

The rear end 27 of the housing 15 is provided with an end bearing enclosure 28 having an enlarged rim 29 that is supported on the housing bythe fastening connection 30 or other suitable releasable connection. A removable end cap 31 having a shaftopening 32 therein is releasably secure-d by means of cap screws 33 to close the end of the enclosure 28. A pair of ball bearings 34 and 35 in raceways are mounted in spaced axial relation within the bearingenclosure 28 to receive the stud end 36 of the conveyor shaft 38. Thrust bearing assembly 37 is positioned against the interior of the enclosure 28 to facilitate rotation of the conveyor 38 as the conveyor end of the shaft is subjected to end thrust when mortar or other glutinous materials are being dispensed from the discharge end of the gun.

A conveyor shaft 38 is supported in cantilever manner for rotation within the bearings 34 and 35 as the stud portion 36 of the shaft 38 is supported therein. An enlarged shoulder 40 on the conveyor shaft adjacent to the stud portion 39 serves as a barrier or bafiie to prevent rearward seepage of the materials into the bearing enclosure. The material conveying portion of the conveyor shaft 38 has a helical blade or auger 42 extending longitudinally from the shoulder 40 forward to the end of the conveyor shaft 38. .It has been found that an integral casting of aluminum may be used advantageously for the entire conveyor shaft due to the highly corrosive-nature of some of the materials to be dispensed. I

The forward end of the conveyor shaft may be threaded internally to receive therein the threaded end 44 of the helical blade or tip 45 which may project from the end of the conveyor shaft 38 through the discharge opening 23 and forward into the removable tip nozzle 24. It will be readily apparent that for dispensing some materials the helical tip 45 and nozzle 24 need not be employed and the larger diameter conveyor shaft 38 will discharge material directly through the discharge orifice in the cap 20.

It has been found desirable in dispensing certain materials, particularly grout and mortar, to incorporate a tubular sleeve or liner 46 which may be slidably receivable within the housing to encase the conveyor shaft for substantially the length of the helical portion. A trans verse opening 47 in the sleeve will register with the chute opening 17 enabling materials to pass directly to the conveyor shaft.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, a cylindrical hopper 11 is releasably supported on the dispenser cylindrical housing in order to feed material into the chute opening 17. The bottom of the cylindrical hopper has a converging or funnel-like bottom 48 having abottom opening 49 therein for directing the material 50 in the hopper into the opening 17 leading to the conveyor shaft 38. A clamping buckle 51 is supported at the base of the hopper at the end of a flexible strap 52 for encircling the tubular housing of the gun and to be fastened securely thereabout. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a protruding marginal bottom lip 53 at the hopper opening will enter within the periphery of the chute 16.

For those materials which will flow readily, the hopper 11 need be filled only with the material and by the action of gravity the material will flow into the chute opening 17 and will pass to the conveyor shaft for dispensing through the discharge opening 23 or the nozzzle opening 25 in the gun. However, with some light and viscous materials additional means must be provided for urging the material into the conveyor shaft. When these materials are employed a piston 55 mounted at one end of a piston rod 56 may be forced downwardly into the cylindrical hopper 11 by means of a helical coil spring 57 which encircles the piston rod 56. The free' end of the piston rod 56 has a handle 58 which may be used to extract the piston 55 from within the hopper 11 and for providing additional pressure, when needed, to the piston to force the material into the conveyor.

In order to guidably support the piston 55 during vertical displacement in the hopper, a horizontal cross-bar member 59 having a piston rod opening 60 therein is releasably engaged by a pair of guide supporting rods 61 which are supported on the hopper. Each of the supporting rods 61 are fastened as by welding to the outer perimeter of the hopper. Each of the rods 61 is provided with a recess 62 for releasably receiving a notch 63 Within the ends of the horizontal cross-bar member 59.

For operation, the piston 55 is removed from the hopper 11 and a supply of plastic material is inserted into the hopper. The piston assemblage is then placed in the hopper with the cross-bar member 59 engaging the supporting rods 61 thereby permitting the spring member 57 to force the material downwardly into the hopper bottom opening 49.

In order to drive. the conveyor shaft a conventional electric-motor operated drill 13 having an adjustable drill bit chuck for receiving the free end of the conveyor shaft may be used. With the free end of the shaft locked within the chuck an operator may turn the drill motor on or off by means of the trigger switch 65 on the drill housing 66. Electric current may be supplied to the motor through the lead cord 67 which may be plugged into a suitable source of electric current.

As illustrated in Figure 1A amodified hopper 68 having a frusto-pyramid configuration may be used in place of the cylindrical hopper of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 depending upon the materials to be dispensed from within the hopper. A buckle 69 is fastened at one end of the metal flexible strap 70 with the other end of the strap being fastened as by welding to the hopper wall. The other end of the clamping means (not shown) is fastened on the opposite side of the hopper for engagement with the buckle 69 after the strap encompasses the cylindrical housing of the dispenser.

To facilitate handling and loading of the cylindrical hopper 11, particularly with plastic material, a cylindrical cartridge of a disposable type may be utilized, as shown in outline form in Fig. 1. The cartridge 75 is provided with a removable lid and a movable or depressable lid 76 which will cooperate with the piston 55 and a spring of adequate capacity to urge the. lid 76 downwardly in the cartridge. Upon removal of the cover lid (not shown) a cartridge with the contents therein may be inverted and inserted into the hopper. The movable lid 76 may then be forced into the cartridge and the contents will be fed into the housing for discharge by the conveyor.

For cleaning the apparatus after operation, the hopper assemblage may be removed from the cylindrical housing and then the dispenser may be disassembled enabling the operator to cleanse each of the components thoroughly preparatory for future use.

Many modifications and variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of the housing for the conveyor shaft as well as the detachable hopper and means for urging a material downwardly in the hopper without departing from the real spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims many modified forms of structure as well as equivalents may be reasonably included and modifications are contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable gun dispenser for glutinous and cementitious material comprising, in combination with a detachable portable motor-operated drill having an adjustable shaft receiving chuck,. a tubular housing having. open ends and a transverse chute opening therein intermediate the housing length, a disengageable end cap mounted at one end of the housing and having a central shaft bearingopening, a discharge nozzle cap releasably mounted ontheother end of the housing, a tubular sleeve liner substantially coextensive with the longitudinal housing and provided with an opening communicating with the housing chute opening, said sleeve liner being slidably received in the housing, an auger conveyor supported for rotation within the sleeve liner and having at one end a shaft projecting longitudinally from the opening in the end cap to be received within the motor-operated drill chuck, the other end of the conveyor terminating adjacent to the discharge nozzle cap, a cylindrical material hopper having a converging discharge opening for registry with the transverse chute opening in the tubular housing, said hopper having means for constantly urging material stored in the hopper through the discharge opening into the tubular housing, said means comprising a piston guidably supported in the cylindrical hopper, said piston having a rod projecting vertically from the piston, a helical spring encircling the piston rod and engaging the piston, a piston guide and hopper engaging plate releasably mounted to the hopper for providing a stationary base for the other end of the spring to urge the piston toward the hopper discharge opening.

2. A portable gun dispenser for glutinous and cementitious material comprising a tubular housing having open ends and a transverse opening therein intermediate the housing length, disengageable end caps mounted at end of the housing, one of said caps having a shaft opening therein and the other cap having a discharge nozzle therein, a tubular sleeve liner substantially coextensive with the longitudinal housing and provided with an opening communicating with the housing opening, said sleeve liner being slidably received in the housing, a helical screw conveyor shaft supported for rotation within the sleeve liner and having at one end a shaft extension projecting longitudinally from the shaft opening in one of the end caps, and the other end of the conveyor terminating adjacent to the cap having the discharge nozzle, an auxiliary conveyor tip releasably fastened to and in axial alignment with the conveyor shaft, a cylindrical material hopper having a bottom discharge opening for registry with the transverse opening in the tubular housing, said hopper having means for constantly pressing material stored in the hopper through the discharge opening into the conveyor, said means comprising :a piston guidably supported in the cylindrical hopper, said piston having a piston rod projecting vertically from the piston, a spring member for urging the piston toward the hopper discharge opening, a piston guide and hopper-engaging bar releasably mounted to the hopper for retaining the presser means in the hopper.

3. A portable gun dispenser for glutinous and cementitious material comprising, in combination with a detachable portable motor-operated drill having an adjustable shaft receiving chuck, a tubular housing having open ends and a transverse opening therein intermediate the housing length, a chute extending around the transverse opening in the housing, disengageable end caps mounted at each end of the housing and one of said caps having a central shaft bearing opening therein and the other cap having a discharge nozzle therein, a helical screw conveyor supported for rotation within the housing and having at one end a shaft projecting longitudinally from the bearing opening in said one end cap to be received within the drill chuck, a material hopper having a discharge opening, said hopper discharge opening having a marginal lip for cooperative reception into the transverse opening chute to releasably support the hopper therein and to convey material from the hopper into the housing, means in said hopper for constantly pressing material stored in the hopper through the discharge opening into the chute and housing, and flexible means mounted on the hopper for encircling the housing to releasa'bly lock the hopper in position on the housing.

4. A portable gun dispenser for glutinous and cementitious material comprising, in combination with a detachable portable motor-operated drill having an adjustable shaft receiving chuck, a tubular housing having open ends and a transverse opening therein intermediate the housing length, a chute extending around the transverse opening in the housing, disengageable end caps mounted at each end of the housing and one of said caps having a central, shaft bearing opening therein and the other cap having a discharge nozzle therein, a helical screw conveyor supported for rotation Within the housing and having at one end a shaft projecting longitudinally from the bearing opening in said one end cap to be received Within the drill chuck, a material hopper having a bottom discharge opening, a marginal lip surrounding the bottom discharge opening for cooperative reception and support of the hopper on the chute, and flexible means mounted on the hopper for encircling the housing to releasably lock the hopper in position on the housing and for maintaining the marginal lip within the housing chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,081 Fearon May 31, 1910 1,828,317 Clapp Oct. 20, 1931 2,606,645 Heine Aug. 12, 1952 2,626,085 MacKinnon Jan. 20, 1953 2,694,509 Vita Nov. 16, 1954 

